Soldiers and Vehicles Push through a French Village

Much of the initial Allied advance on Normandy was fought by the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. After the men of these units were able to reorganize, they executed their mission to capture the numerous cities and villages that would be necessary to serve as a foothold for the infantry to move inland. Over the next several weeks, airborne units were able to take and hold Carentan through hard fighting, allowing the infantry to begin the push to expel the Germans from France after four long years. 

Courtesy of The National WWII Museum